Labeling apparatus and method for disk storage media

ABSTRACT

A label printer system includes a disk storage medium including a thermally-sensitive layer formed on at least a portion of an upper surface. A rotational drive rotates the disk storage medium and a transverse drive moves a laser substantially transversely with respect to the disk storage medium. A memory includes a symbol set and a label printer driver. A processor uses the label printer driver to control the rotational drive and the transverse drive in order to thermally write the symbol set to the thermally-sensitive layer of the disk storage medium, using the laser.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to labeling for a computer diskstorage media, and more particularly to labeling employing a computerdisk drive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Increasingly large amounts of information are stored on various types ofstorage media. The popularity of larger and larger capacity storagemedia is growing due to increasing computer use. Therefore, many typesof large data storage needs exist. Examples of situations where computerusers need or desire large storage media are for holding databaserecords, software programs, graphics, audio, video, etc. This increasingdemand for digital storage media has resulted in the popularity ofoptical storage media, such as compact disks (CDs) and digital videodisks or digital versatile disks (DVDs).

This need for data storage corresponds with a need for labeling of diskcontents. The explosion of user writable optical media, such as writableCDs and the recent emergence of writable DVDs, has resulted in largequantities of user created disks.

In the prior art there are several approaches to disk labeling. Thefirst and simplest prior art labeling approach is marking on the diskwith a pen or marker. However, while being simple and fast, it hasseveral drawbacks. It could damage the disk and it may increase thelikelihood of read errors during use of the disk. In addition, the handmarking approach cannot record detailed or large amounts of information,is not as visually pleasing, generally does not allow for graphics, andmay smudge and degrade over time.

A second approach to labeling is an adhesive label that may beindependently created and stuck to the disk. The drawbacks of thisapproach is that extra effort is required by the person making such alabel. Moreover, the creation of the label may be easily put off andforgotten because it may require too much effort to always be done atthe time of disk creation recording. Moreover, it requires extra effortif additional information is later recorded onto the disk.

A third approach is a digital label approach wherein digital data isinternally stored as part of the information on the disk and not on anexternal label. This may allow permanent marking and may allow forlarger quantities of data. However, the drawbacks are that a person oruser cannot visually read the label and must insert the disk into a diskdrive to read the label.

A fourth approach is an approach illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,031to Kahle, wherein a bubble jet or inkjet label printer is built into adisk drive. Although this allows a user to put large quantities of dataon the label and allows it to be printed in a professional and neatmanner, there are still several drawbacks. One drawback is that it isexpensive. This prior art approach adds to the cost of a disk drive andrequires frequent re-supply of materials such as ink or ink cartridges.Furthermore, it will increase the size of the disk drive. Anotherdrawback is that the ink from the label printer may get into the drivemechanism and may foul the read and writing lasers of the disk drive.Yet another drawback is a recurring effort of maintaining andresupplying ink to the label printer. Yet another drawback is that heatin the drive mechanism may dry out the ink.

Therefore, there remains a need in the art for improvements to computerdisk media labeling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A label printer system comprises a disk storage medium including athermally-sensitive layer formed on at least a portion of an uppersurface. A rotational drive rotates the disk storage medium and atransverse drive moves a laser substantially transversely with respectto the disk storage medium. A memory includes a symbol set and a labelprinter driver. A processor uses the label printer driver to control therotational drive and the transverse drive in order to thermally writethe symbol set to the thermally-sensitive layer of the disk storagemedium, using the laser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a label printer system according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a label printer system according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a label printing method according to oneembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a label printing method according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a label printer system 100 according to oneembodiment of the invention. The label printer system 100 includes adisk drive 110, a processor 133, and a memory 130. The disk drive 110includes a rotational drive 113 capable of controlling the rotation of adisk storage medium 115, such as a CD or DVD disk, for example. The diskdrive 110 further includes a transverse drive 121 capable of controllinga transverse motion of the laser head 118 toward the center of the diskstorage medium 115. The disk drive 110 further includes a laser head118, including at least a writing laser 109 for reading from and writingto the disk storage medium 115. The laser head 118 may alternativelyinclude both a read laser 108 and a writing laser 109.

The processor 133 may be any type of general purpose processor capableof controlling the rotational drive 113 and the transverse drive 121 fornormal disk read and write operations. In addition, the processor 133 iscapable of controlling the rotational drive 113, the transverse drive121, and the laser head 118 for a label printing operation.

The memory 130 may be any type of digital memory. The memory 130 maystore, among other things, a disk orientation variable 149, a symbol set146, a label printer driver 138, a disk rotational position 162, and atransverse position 166. In addition, the memory 130 may store softwareor firmware to be executed by the processor 133.

The processor 133 and memory 130 may comprise a specially programmeddisk controller that is part of the disk drive 110. Alternatively, theprocessor 133 and the memory 130 may be part of a personal computer orwork station (not shown), and may perform additional control of the diskdrive 110.

The disk storage medium 115 may be any type of disk medium wherein arotational and transverse drive are used to read and write data from thedisk storage medium 115. This may include a CD disk, a DVD disk, etc.

The disk storage medium 115 includes a thermally-sensitive layer 117that changes color when heated. The heating is accomplished by a writinglaser. The color change may be used in order to form alpha-numericcharacters, graphics, etc. The thermally-sensitive layer 117 may changeto a black color when heated, for example. Alternatively, thethermally-sensitive layer 117 may change to other colors, as desired.

The thermally-sensitive layer 117 may be a layer deposited on the diskstorage medium 115 or may be a label that is attached by an adhesive.The label may further be a permanent or peel-off label. In the case of apeel-off label, this would allow the user to later remove the label ifthe user significantly changed the contents of the disk storage medium115.

The laser head 118 may include a read laser 108 and a writing laser 109,as is known in the art. The read laser 108 is generally a low powerlaser that cannot change the information bits on the disk storage medium115, but is merely capable of detecting a state of an information bit.The writing laser 109 is of a higher power and can focus enough lightenergy on the disk storage medium 115 to change the state of informationbits therein. Alternatively, a single writing laser 109 may be includedand may be modulated to a lower power level. At a lower power level, thesingle writing laser 109 may also be employed as a read laser.

The rotational drive 113 is capable of rotating the disk storage medium115. The rotational drive 113 may be any suitable drive mechanism,including all manner of electric motors, geared electric motors, servomotors, stepper motors, etc.

The transverse drive 121 is capable of moving the laser head 118transversely with respect to the disk storage medium 115. The motion maybe approximately linear, or may be approximately arcuate. The laser head118 alternatively may pivot with respect to the disk storage medium 115,such as in a computer hard drive. The transverse drive 121 may be anysuitable drive mechanism, including all manner of electric motor andworm gear combinations, servo motors, stepper motors, etc.

The disk orientation variable 149 may indicate whether the disk storagemedium 115 is in the disk drive 110 in an upright or inverted position.As will be discussed below, the laser head 118 may include merely theread laser 108 and the writing laser 109, as is known in the art.Because the disk drive 110 in this embodiment includes only aconventional read laser 108 and writing laser 109, the disk storagemedium 115 will need to be inserted into the disk drive 110 in aninverted position, with a top surface of the disk storage medium 115facing downward. As a result, the standard writing laser 109 of the diskdrive 100 is positioned underneath the disk storage medium 115 and canbe trained on the thermally-sensitive layer 117.

The symbol set 146 stores one or more alpha-numeric characters, images,icons, graphics, etc. The symbol set 146 therefore stores any symbolcapable of being digitally represented and printed on the label of thedisk storage medium 115.

The label printer driver 138 is a software routine that interprets thesymbol set 146 and converts it into a set of rotational and transversemovements and writing laser activations. The label printer driver 138therefore enables the control of the rotational drive 113 and thetransverse drive 121 in order to write the symbol set onto thethermally-sensitive layer 117 of the disk storage medium 115. The labelprinter driver 138 therefore may be a software driver that is loaded inorder to operate the label printer function of the disk drive 110.

The disk rotational position 162 stores a current rotational position ofthe disk. The disk rotational position 162 may be used to track andcontrol a rotational motion of the rotational drive 113.

The transverse position 166 stores the transverse displacement of thelaser head 118. The transverse displacement is the motion of the laserhead 118 toward or away from a central hub of the disk storage medium115, in an approximately linear or arcuate path. The transverse position166 may be used to track and control the transverse motion of the laserhead 118.

In operation, the user inserts a disk storage medium 115 into the diskdrive 110 in an inverted orientation. This inverted orientation will bereflected in the disk orientation variable 149. The thermally-sensitivelayer 117 is therefore on the lower side of the disk storage medium 115,and is capable of being written to by the laser head 118. The processor133 executes the label printer driver 138 and reads the data in thesymbol set 146. Using the rotational position variable 162 and thetransverse position variable 166, the processor 133 controls therotational drive 113 and the transverse drive 121 in order to manipulatethe laser head 118 with respect to the disk storage medium 115. Theprocessor 133 therefore controls the disk drive 110 in order to trainthe writing laser 109 on the disk storage medium 115 in the patternsdictated by the symbol set 146, thereby writing label symbols to thedisk storage medium 115. The thermally-sensitive layer 117 therefore maybe heated in order to create any manner of alphanumeric symbols and/orgraphics.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a label printer system 200 according to anotherembodiment of the invention. In this second embodiment, a disk drive 210further includes a label printer writing device 214. All components incommon with the first embodiment 100 share the same reference numerals.

The label printer writing device 214 may be any manner of heat producingelement capable of writing to the thermally sensitive layer 117. Forexample, in one embodiment the label printer writing device 214 may be alaser, including a laser diode. Alternatively, in another embodiment thelabel printer writing device 214 may be a thermal writing head, such asa facsimile writing head, that includes one or more thermal devices.

The label printer writing device 214 is positioned above the diskstorage medium 115, and as a result the disk storage medium 115 may beinserted in a normal, upright orientation. As a consequence, the diskdrive 210 may write digital data to the disk storage medium 115 (usingthe laser head 118) while concurrently or independently writing to alabel on the upper side of the disk storage medium 115 (using the labelprinter writing device 214).

It should be noted that the label printer writing device 214 may moveconcurrently with the laser head 118 (i.e., it may be moved by thetransverse drive 121). Alternatively, a second transverse drive 221 maymove the label printer writing device 214 independently of the laserhead 118. If a screw-type drive moves the label printer writing device214, it may be desirable to rotate the screw with respect to the secondtransverse drive 221 in order to retract the label printer writingdevice 214 (for purposes of insertion and removal of the disk storagemedium 115).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart 300 of a label printing method according to oneembodiment of the invention. In step 302, the method detects whether thedisk storage medium 115 is inverted. This is an optional step that maybe performed if there is only a single writing laser 109 positionedbelow the disk storage medium 115. Such a configuration necessitatesinversion of the disk storage medium 115 for a label printing operation.If the disk drive includes a label printer writing device 214 positionedabove the disk storage medium 115, this step is not needed. If the diskis inverted, then the method proceeds onto step 306; otherwise, itexits.

In step 306, a symbol set 146 is loaded. The symbol set 146 is a digitaldata contents of a desired label, as dictated by a user of the diskdrive 110 or 210. The symbol set 146 may be programmed into the computermemory 130 by the user, and may be transferred onto thethermally-sensitive layer 117 of the disk storage medium 115 as part ofthe label printing process. For example, the symbol set 146 may includea disk name, a description of disk contents, a date, etc., and mayfurther include any manner of graphics.

In step 313, a spot or spots on the disk storage medium 115 are heatedwith the laser head 118 or label printer writing device 214. The spot orspots are heated to activate the thermally-sensitive layer 117 at thespot or spots where the laser head 118 or label printer writing device214 is currently trained.

In step 324, the laser head 118 or label printer writing device 214 ismanipulated with regard to the disk storage medium 115. This may includetransversely moving the laser head 118 or label printer writing device214, rotating the disk storage medium 115, or both. This is done to forma set of symbols as dictated by the symbol set 146. The manipulationtherefore moves the laser illumination spot. In this manner, the laserhead 118 or label printer writing device 214 may form any manner ofsymbols and may form them on any area of the disk storage medium 115that is covered by the thermally-sensitive layer 117.

The label printer according to the invention allows the user to add to alabel if a disk is reinserted. To add to an existing label, the labelprinter according to the invention will need to detect an existing labeland detect an open or empty area on the thermally-sensitive layer 117.The label printer may further perform an erasing operation if theprovided disk storage medium includes an erasing capability.

In an additional capability, the method may be used for color printing.The color printing may be done in any of several ways. In oneembodiment, the thermally-sensitive layer 117 includes multiple layersand the laser head 118 or label printer writing device 214 may bemodulated to burn through the appropriate layers to produce a desiredcolor. In another embodiment, the thermally-sensitive layer 117 may bearranged in a pattern, wherein the symbol set 146 may dictate whichpattern areas are to be thermally activated in order to form a labelcomposed of different colors. The pattern could be a series ofsubstantially concentric rings of different colors, may be asubstantially radial line pattern, may be substantially a grid, etc.

One additional requirement of the color printing is the need for precisepositional information of the color pattern for precise positioning of awriting laser with regard to the pattern. This may be done through oneor more alignment marks or an alignment pattern, may be done through apre-reading of thermally sensitive layers, may be done through a testprinting on a small area of the thermally-sensitive layer 117, such asnear the hub, near the edge of the disk storage medium 115, etc. Anytest printing area may later be burned to black in order to obliteratesuch a test area.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 of a label printing method according toanother embodiment of the invention. In step 403, a symbol set 146 isloaded, as previously discussed.

In step 407, one or more alignment marks on the disk storage medium 115are read. The alignment marks may be pre-printed on thethermally-sensitive layer 117. The reading of the alignment marks may bedone by the standard read laser 108 of the laser head 118. The alignmentdetermination may be used in order to properly align a completed labelaccording to a predetermined orientation, and may be especiallyapplicable to color label printing. Alternatively, the alignment markscould be printed on the thermally-sensitive layer 117 before the labelprinting procedure commences and as part of the label printingprocedure. In another alternative, the data tracks on the disk storagemedium 115 may be used for alignment. For example, file headers of thestored digital data may be used for alignment.

In step 411, a spot on the disk storage medium 115 is heated with thelaser head 118 or label printer writing device 214, as previouslydiscussed.

In step 418, the laser head 118 or label printer writing device 214 ismanipulated with regard to the disk storage medium 115 and the alignmentmarks. As before, the manipulating is done by the rotational drive 113and the transverse drive 121 or 221, but is also done in conjunctionwith the detected alignment marks in order to position the symbols to beprinted (and optionally in order to print color).

It should be noted that the finished label may include embeddedinformation, including information about the disk storage medium 115.This embedded disk information may include information such as disktype, disk capacity, thermal media printing characteristics, locationsof alignment marks, licensing information, etc. In addition, the labelmay come with pre-recorded data, such as a color layer pattern, athermal sensitivity (i.e., how much laser power will be needed toactivate the thermally sensitive layer); gray scale information such asa gray scale gamma curve; etc.

In addition, the disk drive 110 may be capable of learning a colorpattern formed in the thermally sensitive layer, such as aself-calibration wherein test marks are written on a small area of thelabel in order to determine the color pattern. It should be understoodthat in this embodiment the disk drive 110 must include an opticaldetector element that reads the thermally sensitive layer 117. Any testmarks may later be written to black in order to remove any undesiredmarks on the thermally sensitive layer 117.

The alignment marks may be detected by the standard read laser 108.Alternatively, in the embodiment of the disk drive 210 that includes twowriting lasers, alignment marks could use a data side disk foralignment. Therefore, the standard read laser could look at a firstreadable data header and use that as an alignment mark for the labelprinting operation.

Another use of the alignment marks is for an eject operation. Thealignment marks may be used to eject the disk storage medium 115according to a predetermined orientation. As a result, the label may beoriented so as to be normally viewed and read by the user when ejected.

The data written to the thermally sensitive layer 117 may also be usedfor subsequent label writing operations. For example, in one embodimentthe data written to the thermally sensitive layer 117 may be also storedto a label data file. The label data file may be stored on the user'scomputer, on an associated computer network, or even on thecorresponding disk. When a particular disk is re-inserted, such as foradding to the stored digital data, the label printer may identify theparticular disk, may retrieve the label data file, and may even bring upan image of the current label. The user may therefore modify theexisting label corresponding to the changes to the digital data contentsof the disk. Therefore, if the disk is a music CD and the user desiresto add additional songs to the disk, for example, the user may also addthe songs to the label. This allows the user to modify and even previewthe label data. In addition, the label printer may warn the user ifthere is not enough space on the label to add desired new material.Furthermore, if the label data file can not be found, in one embodimentthe label printer may optically scan the label and reconstruct the labeldata file.

The invention differs from the prior art in that the invention uses athermally-sensitive layer that may be activated by a writing laser ofthe disk drive. The label may be integral with the disk and can beburned in before or after a disk data writing operation. In addition, alabel according to the invention may be written to more than one time.Furthermore, the label can be a separate label that is adhered to thedisk storage medium 115 before the label printing operation.Consequently, the user may add the label to a previously written-to diskor may adhere more than one label to a particular disk.

The label printing according to the invention provides several benefits.The label printing provides easy printing of a label on any disk storagemedium and is capable of printing a high quality label that canaccommodate any combination of text or graphics. The label printingaccording to the invention requires only a few or no extra steps, andcan use an existing writing laser of a disk drive. There is no ink ortoner used in the disk drive to create maintenance problems. There is noink or toner to smudge, no required ink or toner supply or replacement,and no additional maintenance load will be placed on the disk drive.Therefore, there is no need to independently track supplies, as theprintable medium may be purchased on individual disks. In addition, thelabel printing according to the invention may be used to create colorlabels and designs.

Another benefit according to the invention is that the label printed inthe invention may be used to retrofit and reconfigure an existing diskdrive with a new software routine in order to enable label printingaccording to the invention.

In an additional benefit, the user may be able to digitally create labelinformation and download it and print it onto the disk storage medium115 as part of the normal digital data writing to the data side of thedisk storage medium 115. Therefore, the label printing could be doneautomatically and all the user has to do is specify the labelinformation.

We claim:
 1. A label printing method for a disk storage medium,comprising the steps of: loading a symbol set to a processor controllinga disk drive, with said symbol set including one or more predeterminedsymbols or graphics to be written to said disk storage medium; readingone or more-alignment marks on said disk storage medium; heating with alaser a thermally-sensitive layer formed on at least a portion of anupper surface of said disk storage medium; and manipulating said laserwith respect to said disk storage medium; wherein said symbol set inconjunction with said one or more alignment marks used to control themanipulating step in order to write said one or more predeterminedsymbols or graphics to said thermally-sensitive layer; and wherein saidone or more alignment marks were previously written to a data contentsof said disk storage medium.
 2. A label printing method for a diskstorage medium, comprising the steps of: loading a symbol set to aprocessor controlling a disk drive, with said symbol set including oneor more predetermined symbols or graphics to be written to said diskstorage medium; reading one or more-alignment marks on said disk storagemedium; heating with a laser a thermally-sensitive layer formed on atleast a portion of an upper surface of said disk storage medium; andmanipulating said laser with respect to said disk storage medium;wherein said symbol set in conjunction with said one or more alignmentmarks used to control the manipulating step in order to write said oneor more predetermined symbols or graphics to said thermally-sensitivelayer; and ejecting said disk storage medium according to apredetermined orientation using digital data stored on said disk storagemedium.